Pavement data tracking and mapping system

ABSTRACT

A system for tracking and presenting pavement data related to a paved road area. The system includes a computer-based mapping system configured to generate a digital map of a real-world location having a paved road area and a digital reconstruction of at least a portion of the paved road area that is overlaid onto the map. The reconstruction includes two or more different user-selectable digital road segments that each corresponds to a different portion of the paved road area and is defined by two or more geographic coordinates. For each digital road segment, a corresponding data set includes pavement composition information and other information, including the geographic coordinates that define the selected digital road segment. When a user selects a digital road segment, at least a portion of the pavement data set corresponding to the selected digital road segment is displayed to the user via a display.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/PATENTS

This application is a continuation-in-part application of applicationSer. No. 15/597,834, filed on May 17, 2017, and entitled “SYSTEM ANDMETHOD FOR ASPHALT MIX TRACKING,” which relates back to and claims thebenefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application for Patent Ser.No. 62/337,485, filed on May 17, 2016, and entitled “MIX TRACKINGSYTEM”; wherein the entire contents of the foregoing applications arehereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods fortracking and providing road pavement data. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to a system and method for tracking andpresenting pavement data, including pavement composition data andlocation data, in a map and map overlay in response to a user selectingone of two or more user-selectable portions.

BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

It is known to use systems and methods to track asphalt mix.Conventional systems and methods, however, suffer from one or moredisadvantages. For example, conventional asphalt mix tracking systemsand methods do not track the asphalt mix from the mixing site all theway to the paving site. Conventional asphalt mix tracking systems andmethods also do not install identification means in the paved roadway atintervals. Conventional asphalt mix tracking systems and methods do notsufficiently provide the age of the paved roadway or the origin orcomposition of its asphalt mix at a later date. In addition,conventional asphalt mix tracking systems and methods do not permit suchdata to be collected via a vehicle while its travels on the pavedroadway. Conventional asphalt mix tracking systems and methods also donot efficiently share data with multiple parties. Still further,conventional systems fail to present stored pavement data in an easilyunderstood and navigated visual format for discrete portions of aroadway.

What is needed, therefore, is a tracking and mapping system for trackingand presenting pavement data related to a paved road area to a systemuser that addresses the above and other disadvantages.

NOTES ON CONSTRUCTION

The use of the terms “a”, “an”, “the” and similar terms in the contextof describing the invention are to be construed to cover both thesingular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearlycontradicted by context. The terms “comprising”, “having”, “including”and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning“including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The terms“substantially”, “generally” and other words of degree are relativemodifiers intended to indicate permissible variation from thecharacteristic so modified. The use of such terms in describing aphysical or functional characteristic of the invention is not intendedto limit such characteristic to the absolute value which the termmodifies, but rather to provide an approximation of the value of suchphysical or functional characteristic. All methods described herein canbe performed in any suitable order unless otherwise specified herein orclearly indicated by context.

The use of any and all examples or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”and “preferably”) herein is intended merely to better illuminate theinvention and preferred embodiments thereof, and not to place alimitation on the scope of the invention. Nothing in the specificationshould be construed as indicating any element as essential to thepractice of the invention unless so stated with specificity.

As used herein, the term “measuring device” means any device, mechanism,assembly, or combination thereof that is adapted to determine one ormore characteristics of an object or material such as an asphalt mix.The term “measuring device” includes without limitation aggregateweighbridges, recycle weighbridges, temperature sensors, bin scales, binon-load cells, truck scales, hopper scales, batching scales, meteringpumps, bin level indicators, tank level indicators, Coriolis meters,load cells, pressure sensors, moisture probes, drive speed encoders,belt speed encoders, no-rotation sensors, bin weighbridges, and thelike.

As used herein, the term “controller” means any device, mechanism,assembly, or combination thereof that is adapted to control anapplication or process using computer logic. The term “controller”includes without limitation programmable logic controllers,microcontrollers, and microprocessors.

As used herein, the term “server” means any program, process, device,mechanism, assembly, or combination thereof that is adapted toelectronically communicate with a controller as defined above and beelectronically accessed by remote devices. The term “server” includeswithout limitation programs, processes, devices, mechanisms, assemblies,and combinations thereof that are electronically connected to a networkof controllers and are adapted to provide a service in response to arequest from one or more controllers. The term “server” further includeswithout limitation programs, processes, devices, mechanisms, assemblies,and combinations thereof that are adapted to provide a service to one ormore controllers on a publish-subscribe basis. The term “server” stillfurther includes without limitation application servers, catalogservers, communications servers, computing servers, database servers,the Internet, the “cloud,” and the like.

As used herein, the term “tag” means any device, mechanism, assembly, orcombination thereof that is adapted to be attached to or placed in theobject or material being measured by the measuring device. The term“tag” includes without limitation devices, mechanisms, assemblies, andcombinations thereof that are adapted to wirelessly communicate with areader as defined below. The term “tag” further includes withoutlimitation active, passive, battery-operated passive, andfield-programmable tags.

As used herein, the term “reader” means any device, mechanism, assembly,or combination thereof that is adapted to wirelessly communicate with atag as defined above and a controller as defined above. The term“reader” includes without limitation passive and active readers. Theterm “reader” further includes without limitation fixed and mobilereaders.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above and other needs are met by a tracking and mapping system fortracking and presenting pavement data related to a paved road area to asystem user. The system includes a computer-based mapping systemconfigured to generate a digital map of a real-world location having apaved road area and a digital reconstruction of at least a portion ofthe paved road area that is overlaid onto the map. The digitalreconstruction includes two or more different user-selectable digitalroad segments that each correspond to a different portion of the pavedroad area and that are each defined by two or more different geographiccoordinates. A unique computer-stored pavement data set is associatedwith each digital road segment. The pavement data set includes pavementinformation, including pavement composition information, as well asother information associated with the paved road area corresponding tothe selected digital road segment, including the geographic coordinatesthat define the selected digital road segment. When a user selects adigital road segment, at least a portion of the pavement data setcorresponding to the selected digital road segment is displayed to theuser via a display.

Also provided is a method for digitally recreating a road surface andfor tracking and providing data related to the road surface to a user.The method includes providing a computer-based mapping system. A digitalmap of a real-world location having a paved road area is displayed withthe computer-based mapping system. A plurality of geographic coordinatesare provided to the mapping system in order to define two or moreuser-selectable digital road segments that each correspond to adifferent portion of the paved road area, where each digital roadsegment is defined by a set two or more geographic coordinates that isunique among all other digital

A digital reconstruction of at least a portion of the paved road area isgenerated with the computer-based mapping system. The digitalreconstruction that is created includes at least two of the two or moredigital road segments that are overlaid onto the digital map. A separatecomputer-stored pavement data set is provided for each digital roadsegment. Each of pavement data sets includes pavement information,including pavement composition information of road paving material thatforms the paved road area corresponding to the digital road segment, andother information, including two or more geographic coordinates thatdefine the digital road segment. At least a portion of the pavement dataset for a selected digital road segment is displayed when a user selectsone of the two or more user-selectable digital road segments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The presently preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals representlike parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mixing site having an asphalt trackingsystem according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mixing site having an asphalt trackingsystem according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a communication network utilizing anasphalt tracking according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view a paving site utilizing an asphalt trackingsystem according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method for tracking an asphalt mixaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 depicts a portion of a paved road area in a real-world location;

FIG. 7 depicts a computer-based tracking and mapping system forgenerating a model of a paved road area according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 8 depicts a computer-based tracking and mapping system forgenerating a model of a paved road area according to a second embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a portion of a paved road area that corresponds tothe a selected (i.e., depicted by bolded lines) digital road segmentnumbered “222B” in FIG. 8 that is defined by three-dimensionalgeographic coordinates; and

FIG. 10 depicts a user device displaying a map, map overlay, and datareadout according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the system andmethod for asphalt mix tracking in accordance with the present inventionis illustrated by FIGS. 1 through 5. As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the systemand method for asphalt mix tracking is adapted to substantiallycontinuously track the asphalt mix from the mixing site all the way tothe paving site. The system and method for asphalt mix tracking alsoinstalls an identification means in a paved roadway at intervals. Thesystem and method for asphalt mix tracking further provides the age ofthe paved roadway or the origin or composition of its asphalt mix at alater date. The system and method for asphalt mix tracking still furtherpermits such data to be collected via a vehicle while its travels on thepaved roadway. The system and method for asphalt mix tracking alsoefficiently shares data with multiple parties via remote devices. Inaddition, the system and method for asphalt mix tracking facilitates thereclamation and recycling of asphalt pavement. The system and method forasphalt mix tracking further reduces waste and costs.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of an exemplary mixing siteutilizing an embodiment of the asphalt tracking system in accordancewith the present invention is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 1, theexemplary mixing site is designated generally by reference numeral 20and asphalt tracking system is designated generally by reference numeral30. Exemplary mixing site 20 comprises a plurality of bins 32 adapted toreceive, hold, and dispense components of asphalt mix such as aggregatematerial. Exemplary mixing site 20 also comprises conveyor 34 adapted toconvey the asphalt mix from bins 32 to dryer 36.

Asphalt tracking system 30 is adapted to substantially continuouslytrack an asphalt mix from a mixing site to a paving site and comprises adata collection system adapted to determine at least one characteristicof the asphalt mix. The data collection system comprises a plurality ofmeasuring devices such as weighbridge 40 and moisture sensor 42 that areadapted to determine a plurality of physical properties of the asphaltmix and communicate that data to data control system 44. The datacontrol system is adapted to receive data from the data collectionsystem and comprises a controller that is adapted to communicate suchdata to a server. The server is adapted to communicate such data toremote devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptop computers, desktopcomputers, and the like.

Asphalt tracking system 30 also comprises a lot tracking system. The lottracking system is adapted to track a lot or batch of the asphalt mixand comprises one or more dispensers 50 that are adapted to inject oneor more tags 52 into the asphalt mix. It is contemplated within thescope of the invention that dispensers 50 may inject tags 52 atpre-determined regular intervals, but it is also contemplated within thescope of the invention that the dispensers may inject tags at irregularintervals or upon the determination of an out-of-specification asphaltmix and upon the return to in-specification asphalt mix. It is alsocontemplated within the scope of the invention that dispensers 50 may bedisposed on bins 32 or any other suitable location at mixing site 20.

Tags 52 comprise one or more RFID tags. The RFID tags comprise anintegrated circuit for storing and processing information, modulatingand demodulating a radio frequency (RF) signal, collecting DC power froma reader signal, and other specialized functions. The RFID tags alsocomprise an antenna for receiving and transmitting the signal. The RFIDtag information is stored in a non-volatile memory. The RFID tagincludes either fixed or programmable logic for processing theinformation.

Tags 52 are adapted to communicate with readers 60. More particularly,tags 52 are adapted to communicate a unique identification or serialnumber which will be correlated to the lot or batch or asphalt mix inwhich they have been placed. Preferably, tags 52 are of approximatelythe same size and weight as the aggregate material in which they areplaced in order to minimize or eliminate any upstream or downstreammovement of the tags relative to the asphalt mix as the tags and asphaltmix are conveyed through the mixing site.

Readers 60 are adapted to communicate with tags 52 and data controlsystem 44. More particularly, readers 60 are adapted to receive theunique identification or serial number from tags 52. Readers 60 includeone or more RFID readers adapted to transmit an encoded radio signal tointerrogate tags 52. The RFID tag 52 receives the message and thenresponds with its unique identification or serial number or otherinformation such as a stock number, a lot or batch number, a productiondate, and the like. Because RFID tags 52 have unique identification orserial numbers, RFID reader 60 can discriminate among several tags thatmight be within the range of the reader and read them simultaneously.Preferably, readers 60 are placed at stationary locations at the mixingsite, but it is contemplated within the scope of the invention that thereaders may be mobile.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a perspective view of exemplary mixing site 20utilizing asphalt tracking system 30 is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 2,tracking system 30 comprises dryer 36, mixer 38, a plurality of tags 52,a plurality of readers 60, conveyor 70, a plurality of silos 72, andtruck 74.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a perspective view of an exemplarycommunication network utilizing asphalt tracking system 30 isillustrated. As shown in FIG. 3, the exemplary communication system isdesignated generally by reference numeral 80. Exemplary communicationsystem includes truck tracking system 82 which is adapted to track truck74 as it travels from the mixing site to the paving site. Truck trackingsystem 82 comprises GPS device 84 which is adapted to communicate withserver 86. Server 86 is also adapted to communicate with remote devicessuch as smartphone 88 and laptop computer 90 and produce paperless salesticket 92.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a perspective view an exemplary paving siteutilizing asphalt tracking system 30 is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 4,the exemplary paving site is designated generally by reference numeral100. Exemplary paving site 100 comprises material transfer vehicle 102,asphalt mat 104, and a pavement injection system. Pavement injectionsystem is adapted to identify the lot or batch of the asphalt mix andcomprises a plurality of tags 52, paving site dispenser 106, and pavingsite reader 108. While FIG. 5 illustrates material transfer vehicle 102,it is contemplated within the scope of the invention that the pavementinjection system may include a paver or a person for injecting tags intothe asphalt mat.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a flow chart of a method for tracking anasphalt mix in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. Onemethod for tracking an asphalt mix comprises providing an asphalt mixtracking system. The asphalt mix tracking system comprises a datacollection system that is adapted to determine at least onecharacteristic of the asphalt mix, a data control system that is adaptedto receive data from the data collection system, a lot tracking systemthat is adapted to track a lot of the asphalt mix, a truck trackingsystem that is adapted to track a truck, and a pavement injection systemthat is adapted to identify the lot of the asphalt mix. The asphalt mixtracking system is adapted to substantially continuously track theasphalt mix from a mixing site to a paving site. The method for trackingan asphalt mix also comprises determining the at least onecharacteristic of the asphalt mix, communicating the at least onecharacteristic of the asphalt mix to the data control system,transporting the asphalt mix from the mixing site to the paving site,and injecting an identification means at the paving site.

In other embodiments of the method for tracking an asphalt mix, themethod further comprises communicating the at least one characteristicof the asphalt mix from the data control system to a server andcommunicating the at least one characteristic of the asphalt mix fromthe server to a remote device. In still other embodiments of the methodfor tracking an asphalt mix, the method comprises injecting a tag intothe asphalt mix at the mixing site and injecting a tag into the asphaltmix at the paving site. In other embodiments of the method for trackingan asphalt mix, the method further comprises monitoring the temperatureof the asphalt mix from the mixing site to the paving site, measuringthe amount of time the asphalt mix is at the mixing site, measuring theamount of time the asphalt mix is in transit between a bin and a pointof mixing, measuring the amount of time the asphalt mix is in transitbetween a point of mixing and a silo, and measuring the amount of timethe asphalt mix is in transit between the mixing site and the pavingsite.

In operation, several advantages of the system and method for asphaltmix tracking are achieved. For example, the system and method fortracking an asphalt mix substantially continuously monitor the asphaltmix from the mixing site to the paving site. The system and method forasphalt mix tracking identify and tag an out-of-specification lot orbatch of asphalt mix, or any portion thereof. By so doing, the systemand method for asphalt mix tracking reduce waste and costs and provideonly in-specification asphalt mix to paving sites. The system and methodfor asphalt mix tracking also provide valuable data relating to thereclamation, recycling, durability, and lifespan of an asphalt mix.Further, the system and method for asphalt mix tracking permit data tobe collected and reviewed long after the pavement is laid and via avehicle equipped with a reader. In addition, the system and methodprovide valuable data to multiple remote devices and users, including aDepartment of Transportation inspector, over a variety of platforms.

In addition, the lot tracking system is adapted to track segments (i.e.,lots) of material from the point of mix through the storage silos andinto the truck. Lots are numbered and lot numbers on loadout ticketsidentify which lot the materials in each truck came from. Each lotrecord includes the lot number, time and date, a calibration securitycode (which changes upon any change to the mix, making it possible toidentify unique calibrations), the name of the formula running, and anyalarm conditions. The percentage and flow rate of each ingredient arealso recorded, as well as lot size and/or duration and/or start/stoptimes. Average mix temperatures for the lot are recorded. Thisinformation may be printed and/or uploaded to a cloud server.

Further, the truck tracking system uses GPS and RFID technologies totrack the location of trucks and provide a detailed timing log. The logcharts when the truck arrived at the plant, when it was loaded, theticket number, material ID, truck ID, hauler ID, time of departure fromthe plant, time of arrival at the job site, and return trip details.

Still further, the data control system is adapted to receive data fromthe data collection system and upload the data to a cloud server. Thetruck driver may keep a physical copy of the data as a failsafe. Atablet in possession of a DOT official, a contractor, or an asphaltproducer will be able to download the load data from the server. Thisstreamlined process will eliminate the need to key in ticketing data forasphalt loads, improve customer satisfaction, and reduce laborrequirements. Information will be written to RFID tags that will beinjected into the mix itself In this way, the tags will be embedded intothe road at regular intervals.

Finally, the pavement injection system uses the RFID tags injected intothe road to provide a long-term record of the composition, age, andorigin of the pavement. Vehicles equipped with an RFID reader will beable to travel the road and collect mix data. When the road has reachedits lifespan, these sensors will provide reclamation data, such asasphalt cement percentage of the pavement, making the recycled materialeasier for contractors to re-use.

With reference now to FIGS. 6, there is illustrated a paved road area200 that is formed by a plurality of road portions 202 (i.e., cells25322, 25323, 25324, etc.) that are each created using one or more lotsor batches lot of the asphalt mix. Typically when a road surface iscreated, several trucks sequentially travel from the asphalt productionfacility to a paving site carrying a single lot of asphalt mix. Once atthe paving site, the trucks deposit their load of asphalt mix to thepaving location to form a single road portion 202 and then leave thepaving site.

FIG. 7 illustrates a computer-based tracking and mapping system 204 fortracking and presenting pavement data related to pavement used in theconstruction of paved road areas and paved road portions, such as thepaved road area 200 and road portions 202 illustrated in FIG. 6. System204 is configured to generate an “as built” model 206 of the paved roadarea 200 that provides a long-term record and, preferably, that includesa graphical re-creation of the paved road area and that presents datarelated to the paved road area in an easy to visualize and navigateformat. The model 206 includes a digital map 208 of a real-worldlocation where the paved road area 200 is located, a digitalreconstruction 210 (sometimes also called a “map overlay”) of at least aportion of the paved road area that is overlaid onto the map, and a dataset 212 that provides a variety of information related to the paved roadarea, including location information about the paved road area, pavementinformation (e.g., pavement mix composition), and pavement siteinformation (e.g. date/time of pavement process, ambient temperature,etc.), etc.

In preferred embodiments, this model 206 is created by one or moreservers 214, which generate the map 208 and overlay the reconstruction210 onto the map and also store the data set 212 and associate portionsof the information in the data set with the correct portion of themodel, as further detailed below. Additionally, a user device 216 (userdevices 216A, 216B, and 216C are illustrated) having a display isconfigured to display the model 206, including the map 208, mapreconstruction 210, and data from data set 212 that are provided by theserver 214. In some embodiments, the server 214 that generates the model206 is the same machine that functions as the user device 216. However,in preferred embodiments, one or more user devices 216 are each inremote communication with the server 214. Preferably, the model 206,including particularly the pavement data set 212, may be simultaneouslyand remotely accessed by a plurality of user devices 216. In thisregard, in preferred embodiments, the model 206 including the data set212, or at least a portion thereof, are stored to a cloud-based,remotely accessible storage 218 that may be accessed by the servers 214and user devices 216 over a wireless network 220 (e.g., Internet).Additionally, server 214 and user devices 216 may communicate to eachother directly or over wireless network 220.

In certain embodiments, the model 206 or portions thereof, such as thepavement data set 212, is segregated into one or more sub-portions viaaccess restrictions. This would allow, for example, a first group ofusers to have access only to a first portion of the data set 212 and asecond group of users to have access only to a second portion of thedata set. It is further contemplated that a third group of users (e.g.,administrative accounts) may have access to some or all of the accessrestricted accounts or access restricted data, such as the first andsecond portions of the data set. In certain embodiments, the accessrestrictions are geographical restrictions. This would allow, forexample, users 216A (e.g., city officials, city planners, etc.) in afirst geographical jurisdiction (e.g. Jurisdiction A) to access a firstportion of the data set (e.g. sub-portion A) and users 216B in a secondgeographical jurisdiction (e.g. Jurisdiction B) to access a secondportion of the data set (e.g. sub-portion B). However, in the aboveexample, users from Jurisdiction A would not have access to sub-portionB of the data and users from Jurisdiction B would not have access tosub-portion A of the data. However, a third group of users 216C (e.g.Department of Transportation personnel) may be allowed access to alldata, including sub-portions A and B for that particular state.

With reference to FIG. 8, another example model 206 for the paved roadarea 200 in FIG. 6 is illustrated. In this case, the model 206 includesa map 208 of the paved road area, and a digital reconstruction 210 ofthe paved road itself that includes three user-selectable digital roadsegments 222 (road segments 222A, 222B, and 222C are illustrated) thateach correspond to one of the three road portions 202 (i.e., cells25322, 25323, 25324) of the paved road area 200. These user-selectableroad segments 222 may be selected via user input into a user device 216,such as clicking or highlighting a portion of the model 206, etc.However, in other embodiments, a road segment 222 may be automaticallyselected by locating the user device 216 at the corresponding roadportion 202. For example, the user device 216 may be configured towirelessly communicate geographic coordinates of its current location tothe server (not shown) that is generating the model 206. When thelocation information provided by the user device 216 indicates that theuser device is at a particular road portion, a corresponding roadsegment 222 may be automatically selected and information related to theparticular road segment would be displayed for the user on the userdevice. This would be beneficial, for example, a Department ofTransportation inspector to automatically obtain information related toa portion of a road simply by walking or driving over it.

Preferably, a unique pavement data set 212 is associated with each ofthe digital road segments 222 (one of which is illustrated in FIG. 8).In preferred embodiments, the digital road segments 222 each correspondto a different lot of paving material. Thus, each of the data sets 212includes a unique record of information that relates only to thatparticular lot of paving material and preferably not to other lots ofpaving material. When a user selects one of the road segments 222, atleast a portion of the corresponding data set 212 is automaticallydisplayed to the user via the user device. Thus, the model 206 providesa way of storing data related to a particular lot of paving material,associating that data with a particular location of a paved road area,and makes that information readily available to the user but does notoverwhelm the user with excessive information that concerns otherunrelated portions of the road surface.

Preferably, the data sets 212 each include two or more differentgeographic coordinates that define each of the road portions 202 of thepaved road area 200 to which the selected road segment corresponds. Forexample, in preferred embodiments, each data set 212 includes a firstgeographic coordinate that represents the location where the pavingprocess using a particular lot of paving material began and a secondgeographic coordinate that represents the location where the pavingprocess using that same particular lot of paving material ended. In somecases, certain of these geographic coordinates will be repeated in thedata sets 212 of multiple digital road segments 222. For example, thedata sets 212 tied to road segments 222 for two immediately adjacentroad portions 202 (e.g. cells 25322 and 25323, shown in FIG. 6) couldshare a geographic coordinate. This geographic coordinate would belocated at the intersection between the first road portion and thesecond road portion. However, in other cases, each data set 212 wouldcontain only unique geographic coordinates. This would occur, forexample, in cases where the model 206 includes road segments 222 thatcorrespond to road portions 202 that are not immediately adjacent oneanother (e.g. cells 25322 and 25324).

With continued reference to FIG. 8 and with further reference to FIG. 9,digital road segment 222B corresponds to a portion 202B of the pavedroad area that is defined by eight (8) three-dimensional geographiccoordinates (COOR1 thru COOR8), which define the top and bottomcoordinates of four corners. In certain embodiments, road segments 222correspond to road portions that are defined by two or more geographiccoordinates that are vertically displaced from one another (e.g., COOR1and COOR2). In certain preferred cases, pairs of vertically displacedcoordinates are aligned (i.e., same lateral and longitudinal position).By comparing these geographic coordinates, the thickness of thecorresponding road portion 202 may be determined. In certainembodiments, road portions 222 correspond to road portions 202 that aredefined by two or more geographic coordinates that are longitudinallydisplaced from one another (e.g., COOR1 and COOR5). By comparing thesegeographic coordinates, a length measurement for the corresponding roadportion 202 may be determined. Finally, in certain embodiments, roadportions 222 correspond to road portions 202 that are defined by two ormore geographic coordinates that are laterally displaced from oneanother (e.g., COOR1 and COOR3). By comparing these geographiccoordinates, a width measurement for the corresponding road portion 202may be determined. By providing a sufficiently high number of geographiccoordinates for each road portion 202 that are preferably located acrossthe road surface (including vertically, longitudinally, and laterally)an “as built” model of the road can be re-created that includes anapproximation of the shape, including the thickness, length, width, anddirection, of the road. Again, each of these road portions 202 may bevisually represented in the model 206 as a single user-selectable roadsegment 222.

As discussed above, truck tracking system 82 (shown in FIG. 3) comprisesGPS device 84 which is adapted to communicate with server 86. This sameGPS-equipped truck tracking system 82 or another similarly equippedvehicle (e.g. a GPS-equipped road paving train) may be used in thecreation of a model of the paved road (such as the model 206 shown inFIG. 8). In preferred embodiments, the road paving train is configuredto continuously or periodically communicate its geographic coordinatesto server 214 (which may be server 86, shown in FIG. 3). Preferably, asthese geographic coordinates are provided to server 214, thecorresponding data set 212 is automatically updated to include thosecoordinates substantially in real time as the road area is paved. Forexample, as the road is paved and the model shown in FIG. 8 is updated,additional three-dimensional coordinates COOR9-COOR12, etc. would beadded to the data set 212 as the road was paved. Updating the data set212 with these coordinates further define the road portion 202 that isrepresented by that particular user-selectable road segment 222. Assuch, this method allows for the model 206 to capture the preciselocation of each lot of paving material.

Preferably, the data set 212 includes sufficient information that thewidth, length, and thickness of the paved road surface can be obtained.This may be accomplished, for example, by tracking some or all of thefollowing: the position of the road paving train (including the roadpaving machine itself), the speed of the road paving train, the rate andvolume of deposition of road paving material onto a road surface, thetime of deposition, and the height and width of the deposited roadpaving material. Preferably, this information is combined with thegeographic coordinate data and provided to the server 214 to update thepavement data 210 substantially in real time.

Finally, with reference to FIG. 10, there is shown a user device 216(e.g., a smartphone) having a display 224 for displaying a map and mapoverlay, as discussed above. A digital map 208 of a real-world locationis located is displayed on a lower portion of the display 224 of theuser device 216. A digital reconstruction 210 of portions of the pavedroad area is overlaid onto the map 208. This digital reconstruction 210is divided into two different jurisdictions, namely jurisdiction 226Aand jurisdiction 226B. Jurisdiction 226A is provided with a plurality ofuser-selectable digital road segments 222A that each correspond to adifferent road portion within that specific jurisdiction. Similarly,jurisdiction 226B is provided with a plurality of user-selectabledigital road segments 222B that each correspond to a different roadportion within that specific jurisdiction. When a user clicks on any oneof these road segments 222, at least a portion of the information storedto a cloud-based data set 212 (such as that shown in FIG. 7) isdisplayed is a data readout 212A at the top of the display 224, providedthat that information can be accessed by that particular user.

Although this description contains many specifics, these should not beconstrued as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providingillustrations of some of the presently embodiments thereof, as well asthe best mode contemplated by the inventors of carrying out theinvention. The invention, as described herein, is susceptible to variousmodifications and adaptations, and the same are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tracking and mapping system for tracking andpresenting pavement data related to a paved road area to a system user,the system comprising: a computer-based mapping system configured togenerate: a digital map of a real-world location having a paved roadarea; a digital reconstruction of at least a portion of the paved roadarea that is overlaid onto the map, wherein the digital reconstructionincludes two or more different user-selectable digital road segmentsthat each correspond to a different portion of the paved road area andthat are each defined by two or more different geographic coordinates;and a unique computer-stored pavement data set that is associated witheach digital road segment, wherein said pavement data set comprisespavement information, including pavement composition information, andother information associated with the paved road area corresponding tothe selected digital road segment, including the geographic coordinatesthat define the selected digital road segment, wherein, when a userselects a digital road segment, at least a portion of the pavement dataset corresponding to the selected digital road segment is displayed tothe user via a display.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the two or moredigital road segments include a first digital road segment correspondingto a first portion of the paved road area that is joined continuouslywith a second digital road segment that corresponds to a second portionof the paved road area, wherein the first digital road segment is atleast partially defined by a first geographic coordinate and a secondgeographic coordinate and the second digital road segment is at leastpartially defined by the second geographic coordinate and a thirdgeographic coordinate.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the two or moredigital road segments include a first digital road segment correspondingto a first portion of the paved road area and a second digital roadsegment that corresponds to a second portion of the paved road area thatis not joined with the first portion of the paved road area, wherein thefirst digital road segment is at least partially defined by a firstgeographic coordinate and a second geographic coordinate and the seconddigital road segment is at least partially defined by a third geographiccoordinate and a fourth geographic coordinate.
 4. The system of claim 1wherein each digital road segment includes two or more geographiccoordinates that are vertically displaced from one another and thepavement data set includes a thickness measurement of the pavement thatis calculated based on the two or more vertically displaced geographiccoordinates.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein each digital road segmentincludes two or more geographic coordinates that are laterally displacedfrom one another across the paved road area and the pavement data setincludes a width measurement of the pavement that is calculated based onthe two or more laterally displaced geographic coordinates.
 6. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein each digital road segment includes two or moregeographic coordinates that are longitudinally displaced from oneanother along the paved road area and the pavement data set includes alength measurement of the pavement that is calculated based on the twoor more laterally displaced geographic coordinates and that is measuredalong the paved road area.
 7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:a server associated with the computer-based mapping system forgenerating the map and the map overlay and for storing the pavement dataset; and a user device having the display and that is in remotecommunication with the server and is configured to display the map andmap overlay provided by the server.
 8. The system of claim 7: whereinthe user device is configured to wirelessly communicate geographiccoordinates of its current location to the server; and wherein one ofthe two or more user-selectable digital road segments may beautomatically selected by locating the user device at the paved roadarea defined by the two or more different geographic coordinates andthen communicating the current location of the user device to theserver.
 9. The system of claim 1 wherein the pavement data set isremotely accessible by a plurality of users simultaneously.
 10. Thesystem of claim 9 further comprising cloud-based storage for storing thepavement data.
 11. The system of claim 1 wherein the pavement data setis segregated into one or more geographical jurisdictions, wherein eachgeographical jurisdiction has a first group of user accounts and asecond group of user accounts, wherein a first portion of pavement datais accessible to the first group of user accounts but is not accessibleto the second group of user accounts, and wherein a second portion ofpavement data is accessible to the second group of user accounts but isnot accessible to the first group of user accounts.
 12. The system ofclaim 11 wherein the first and second portions of the pavement data ineach geographical jurisdiction is accessible to a third group of useraccounts.
 13. The system of claim 1 wherein the digital reconstructionis updated with additional digital road sections substantially in realtime as the road area is paved.
 14. The system of 1 wherein the pavementdata is updated substantially in real time as the road area is paved.15. A method for digitally recreating a road surface and for trackingand providing data related to the road surface, the method comprisingthe steps of: providing a computer-based mapping system; with thecomputer-based mapping system, displaying a digital map of a real-worldlocation having a paved road area; providing a plurality of geographiccoordinates to the mapping system to define two or more user-selectabledigital road segments that each correspond to a different portion of thepaved road area and is defined by a set of two or more geographiccoordinates that is unique among all other digital road segments; withthe computer-based mapping system, generating a digital reconstructionof at least a portion of the paved road area using at least two of thetwo or more digital road segments and overlaying the digitalreconstruction onto the digital map; providing a separatecomputer-stored pavement data set for each digital road segment, whereineach of pavement data sets comprises pavement information, includingpavement composition information of road paving material that forms thepaved road area corresponding to the digital road segment, and otherinformation, including two or more geographic coordinates that definethe digital road segment; displaying at least a portion of the pavementdata set for a selected digital road segment when a user selects one ofthe two or more user-selectable digital road segments.
 16. The method ofclaim 15 wherein a first one of the two or more geographic coordinatesthat define each digital road segment is the geographic location wherepaving of the corresponding portion of the paved road area with a firstlot of paving material began and a second one of the two or moregeographic coordinates that define each digital road segment is thegeographic location where paving of the corresponding portion of thepaved road area with the first lot of paving material ended.
 17. Themethod of claim 16 further comprising deriving the second geographiccoordinate based on the first geographic coordinate and at least one ofa deposition rate of pavement at the paved road area, paving materialdwell time, and paving vehicle speed.